The 12th Annual Concrete Open was held at The Legends Club in Prior Lake on Tuesday, June 5th. The sold-out crowd enjoyed a day of near perfect weather.

Over $1,400 was raised through the sale of Mulligans for the American Cancer Society.

The foursome consisting of Dan Molin, Bob Clauson, John Hause and Bob Samuel were the winners of the event with a score of 52.

The second place team was Denver O'Brien, Jim Berg, Nate Brockpahler and Andy Hasselbroek with a score of 54.

Longest drive went to Joel Hempel and closest to the pin was captured by Denver O'Brien.

The lucky winner of the $1,000 jackpot was Dick Iacarella of Aggregate Industries.

A huge thank you goes out to our sponsors! We couldn't do this event without your support!

Click Here to See More Pictures of the Concrete Open (Powerpoint Document)

With the price of copper being high, the theft of copper has increased around the metro area and state. ARM has encouraged legislators to pursue legislation to give law enforcement the needed tools to catch scrap metal thieves. Other industries including home builders and utilities also have an interest in this change in law.

A bill introduced by Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL-Shoreview) and Senator Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis) to require identification when selling to scrap dealers, to require payment by check instead of cash, and to require video cameras in scrap dealer facilities became law this year as part of the Omnibus Public Safety Bill. The bill goes into effect on August 1, 2007 and provides law enforcement the tools they need to catch those who steel these materials.

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ARM successfully worked to get three provisions included in both the House and Senate Omnibus Transportation Policy bills, SF1971 (Murphy) and HF1351 (Hornstein). They were also included in the conference committee report; unfortunately the legislature ran out of time on the last night of session, May 21st, and many bills, including this one, were not acted upon. Following are the ARM bills that were rolled into this omnibus policy bill that had agreement from the legislators and administration, but were not enacted into law.

Concrete Placement Pumpers

Ten Ton Roads

45 Foot Trucks

The ARM bill to allow for the reclassification of property that contains unmined commercial aggregate to the same as agriculture is being discussed again this session. Under the bill, the owner would enter into a restrictive covenant with the county with a commitment that the aggregate deposit will be mined. Moreover, once the mining activity begins that portion of the property would be reclassified to commercial/industrial and would be taxed as a mining activity.

ARM worked with Senator Langseth and Senator Skoe to get this provision included in the Senate Omnibus Tax Bill. The House was still reluctant to accept this change and it was not included in the final Tax Bill sent to the Governor.

Dakota County came forward with a proposal to allow communities with aggregate sites to charge a host community fee with revenues to be used for mitigation and the community's general fund. We worked with the other stakeholders including the towns, counties, cities, AGC along with the authors of the bill, Rep. Atkins and Senator Doll, to try to find a solution that worked for everyone. We will continue to work over the summer and fall to find a compromise.

Last session we found out the Department of Revenue was ready to issue a Revenue Notice (issued statements interpreting or clarifying state law) related to the sales tax on delivery of aggregate. The change would have imposed the sales tax on delivery when the material is piled, but the delivery would be exempt from sales tax if the material is put "substantially in place". Compromise language included in the final Tax Bill would exempt from the sales tax any deliveries for road construction projects.

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the Portland Cement Association have teamed with Land Development Today magazine to offer the seminar Pervious Concrete—A Stormwater Solution in six cities in summer 2007. The one-day seminar is scheduled for August 7, 2007 at the Eagan Community Center in Eagan, MN.

This seminar provides detailed instruction on pervious concrete pavement as a solution to reducing storm water runoff from building sites and other paved areas. Attendees learn the details of pervious concrete pavement systems, engineering properties and construction techniques. The following qualified instructors will be available to teach:

Bruce K. Ferguson. Franklin Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia

Lionel Lemay, senior vice president of technical resources, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Architects and engineers earn 6 Professional Development Hours upon completion of this program. This seminar is registered with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. The registration fee is $245 (lunch included), $295 within 2 weeks of each seminar. Registration can be completed online at www.ldbreakthroughs.com/workshops or by contacting Futurus Communications toll-free at 1-888-388-8787.